Wife of former football coach says teen boy was 'willing participant' in sex

Kelsey McCarter, 29, is serving time after she pleaded guilty to six counts of statutory rape. (KNOX COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE)

A former Tennessee high school football coach’s wife, currently serving time for statutory rape, insists she’s no rapist because the 14-year-old boy was “a willing participant.”

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Kelsey McCarter, 29, is asking a Knox County Circuit Court judge to throw out the lawsuit against her and her husband Justin McCarter filed by the teen who said he was molested multiple times when he lived with them, according to USA Today. Justin McCarter is the former South-Doyle High School assistant football coach.

“(The boy) claims that he suffered injury from the repeated ‘sexual abuse’ by Ms. McCarter,” Doug Trant, her attorney, wrote in a motion, according to the site. “However, the complaint is replete with factual allegations allowing the conclusion that (he) was a willing participant in numerous sexual encounters with Ms. McCarter.”

McCarter pleaded guilty to six counts of statutory rape in September 2017. With her guilty plea, she agreed to a three-year prison term and will be eligible for release after serving 30% of her sentence.

The underage boy moved in with the McCarters with his mother’s approval after they were “experiencing domestic issues” in August 2015, USA Today reported. His older brother also moved in.

However, Kelsey’s seemingly good deed soon turned into a sick act when she began a sexual relationship with the 14-year-old, unbeknownst to her husband.

The boy and his brother then moved out of their home, only to move back in October 2015. McCarter continued molesting the boy until he posted a nude photo of her to social media and school officials were alerted.

Trant said the boy “continued to ‘submit’ to the sexual contacts with Ms. McCarter because he wanted to return to live with the McCarters, and therefore was not sexually abused. “It was reasonable for Ms. McCarter to believe that (the boy) desired to be involved sexually with her and that he willingly participated in their sexual relationship,” the motion continued.

The boy has also sued the school system. A hearing on their motions to dismiss the lawsuit was set for Monday, but has been postponed to Dec. 20.